7.3 or Not
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,234
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From: Upstate NY
just look at the engine, they look completely different
if you are posting in this forum I'm assuming you're looking at trucks of this body style, which would be idi diesels or 7.3l strokes 6.0l wasnt in superdutys until 03
if you are posting in this forum I'm assuming you're looking at trucks of this body style, which would be idi diesels or 7.3l strokes 6.0l wasnt in superdutys until 03
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,101
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From: Poway, CA
Well, for starters, you posted this in the 87-96 forum. NONE of our trucks had the 6.0 option. That engine was first offered in 2003 MY trucks (I think).
Now, in the 87-96 trucks, a 7.3 can be one of two different engines. The first is the 7.3IDI diesel, which was offered until 94. Mid 94 and up, the 7.3L would be the first gen Powerstroke 7.3.
These engines are pretty easy to tell apart. For starters, if it's a bricknose, it's definitely NOT a Powerstroke (though it could be a 6.9 IDI in earlier models). On OBS trucks, it comes down to the year. 95 and up is Powerstroke, 93 and down were IDI. 94 is the odd year since both diesels were offered. Both were 7.3, both were turbo diesels. But, the two engines don't look alike (Powerstrokes has a lot more electronics going on, so extra harnesses and whatnot are a dead giveaway) and there is a different letter in the VIN do differentiate the two, but I cannot remember which character (8th?) and which one is which.
Mike
Now, in the 87-96 trucks, a 7.3 can be one of two different engines. The first is the 7.3IDI diesel, which was offered until 94. Mid 94 and up, the 7.3L would be the first gen Powerstroke 7.3.
These engines are pretty easy to tell apart. For starters, if it's a bricknose, it's definitely NOT a Powerstroke (though it could be a 6.9 IDI in earlier models). On OBS trucks, it comes down to the year. 95 and up is Powerstroke, 93 and down were IDI. 94 is the odd year since both diesels were offered. Both were 7.3, both were turbo diesels. But, the two engines don't look alike (Powerstrokes has a lot more electronics going on, so extra harnesses and whatnot are a dead giveaway) and there is a different letter in the VIN do differentiate the two, but I cannot remember which character (8th?) and which one is which.
Mike
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,359
Likes: 819
From: Mi'kma'ki
the legendary 7.3l
the legendary 7.3l
the engine code is found in the 8th digit in the VIN.
the engine code is found in the 8th digit in the VIN.
firstly,in 1993 ford offered the optional turbocharged idi diesel.some think in '93 the turbo was standard.it wasn't.the same applies to the '94 turbo idi.
so in 1993 there were two engine options.
1.the N/A idi and there were greatly many more in '93 and '94 than turbocharged.
the 8th digit in the vin = M.
2.the optional turbocharged idi.very low % compared to the n/a's.
the 8th digit in the vin = C or K.
(both my '93's came from ford as n/a - M codes.)
in 1994 it got a bit confusing,but nothing crazy.there were 3 engine options.
1.the N/A idi and there were greatly many more in '93 and '94 than turbocharged.
the 8th digit in the vin = M.
2.the optional turbocharged idi.very low % compared to the n/a's.
the 8th digit in the vin = C or K.
3.the new directly injected and computer controlled yet still same exact cubic inches (or liters) that of 444ci or 7.3l but a whole new platform.ford called it the "power stroke" for advertizing sake.these,like all diesels offered since,all received turbo's.it was over and done.the struggle to turn enough people on to expensive turbocharged diesel engines was no longer anything hard to bring to market.the idi had paved the way,with enough learning that the extra expense of running a turbocharged diesel was worth the increased price tag.
the 8th digit in the vin for the '94 power stroke was always = F.
so in 1993 there were two engine options.
1.the N/A idi and there were greatly many more in '93 and '94 than turbocharged.
the 8th digit in the vin = M.
2.the optional turbocharged idi.very low % compared to the n/a's.
the 8th digit in the vin = C or K.
(both my '93's came from ford as n/a - M codes.)
in 1994 it got a bit confusing,but nothing crazy.there were 3 engine options.
1.the N/A idi and there were greatly many more in '93 and '94 than turbocharged.
the 8th digit in the vin = M.
2.the optional turbocharged idi.very low % compared to the n/a's.
the 8th digit in the vin = C or K.
3.the new directly injected and computer controlled yet still same exact cubic inches (or liters) that of 444ci or 7.3l but a whole new platform.ford called it the "power stroke" for advertizing sake.these,like all diesels offered since,all received turbo's.it was over and done.the struggle to turn enough people on to expensive turbocharged diesel engines was no longer anything hard to bring to market.the idi had paved the way,with enough learning that the extra expense of running a turbocharged diesel was worth the increased price tag.
the 8th digit in the vin for the '94 power stroke was always = F.
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